Ni Kun

 

“Are you really sure about this?” frets Akari as she spins around in front of the full length mirror in the bedroom. The girls had gone clothes shopping for their dates that night, and, as usual, Kaimei managed to get Akari into fewer clothes than she was comfortable with.

“Of course I’m sure! You look adorable. Dexter will have to bring a stick to beat the men off of you.” Kaimei assures her for the tenth straight time. She rolls her eyes internally at Akari’s fetish for covering every inch of her body with clothing.

“I feel like a fool.” She pouts, staring at her backside in the mirror. The black, tea-length dress with a low back and neckline hugs her frame nicely, and black satin pumps make her legs look long and gorgeous. “This thing is way too tight. I can definitely see I haven’t been to the gym in a week.” Her eyebrows knit together and her lips pucker together at one side, “are you sure I shouldn’t wear something more conservative for a first date?”

“Oh. My. Lord.” Snarls Kaimei in response, “if you’re bent on looking like you were dressed by a convent of nuns, please, go put some slacks on. But I’ll tell you now, you had better know what you’re wearing, and like it, by the time I get back in here, or you’ll wear what I pick out from MY closet.” She threatens as she stalks out of the bedroom.

“Bleh, bleh, bleh, mom, bleh, bleh.” Mocks Akari, as she continues to examine her side profile in the mirror.

“Well,” sighs Kaimei, twenty minutes later as she’s locking the front door, “I think that’s everything. I’m glad you decided to wear the dress, by the way. It’s very flattering.”

“Of course” snorts Akari, “considering you’re wearing the same dress in a different color, I would hope you would think that.”

“I just happen to look very nice in this dark raspberry color, and this is the only dress that was in this shade.” snaps Kaimei, always aware that Akari hates wearing the same thing someone else has got on. “Are we going to get going or what? Cause my legs are getting cold, and if I can’t feel my feet in these heels, you’re going to have to carry me.”

“Yeah, yeah, we’re going.” Akari spits back, as she walks down the apartment complex steps to hail a taxi.

“You know I hate taxis” grumbles Kaimei as she follows behind. “I don’t understand why we can’t just drive.”

“Because,” Akari says patiently, “parking is horrid on Saturday nights at the Olive Garden. You know this. Not to mention the fact that you always seem to drink a bit too much when you’re having fun, and the last thing I want to be doing tomorrow morning is cleaning out the inside of my nice new car.” She states as she gets into the taxi. Kaimei makes mocking faces to Akari’s back as she slides into the seat. “Olive Garden, please.” Akari tells the driver.  The taxi driver nods and takes off.

“So, who is this guy again?” Kaimei begins to interrogate. “What are you getting me into, and why am I allowing it?”  Akari shoots her a frustrated look and pauses for a moment.

“Can’t you just be suprised?  I mean, I would totally tell you what he looked like and his whole life story, but I’ve never met the guy, and I barely know Dexter, and you know all this so you are asking me because?” she made it a question.

“Well for one, you know I hate suprises. Two, what if he’s a butterface, then what do I do all evening? And three, you don’t even know Dexter very well, so knowing your luck we could be getting ourselves into a whole lot of trouble, and probably end up chopped up in tiny pieces which will be stuffed into a dryer on the street corner in the slums by morning.”  She crosses her arms and leans her head on the cool window, contemplating jumping out of the taxi at the next red light. Or maybe the next green one.  “I just don’t think I’m ready, thats all.”  Akari puts a comforting hand on Kaimei’s shoulder.

“Hey now, don’t talk like that. I know it’s been a long time, and I know what you’re thinking,  but you know what?” she pauses. “This is just a blind date. If you don’t like him, don’t feel pressured to go out with him because of my feelings for Dexter.  I don’t want you to put yourself on the line for me, okay?”  Kaimei sighs and looks at Akari with a small smile.

“Yeah, I know.”  she says.

The taxi cab came to a halt and the driver proclaims, “That’ll be fifteen bucks, my lady.” and holds out his hand.  Akari rummages in her clutch for the cash as Kaimei gets out of the car, and stops.  Akari senses Kaimei standing there, door still ajar, and looks up at her, still rummaging.

“Whats wrong?”  she asks.  Kaimei remains silent, staring intently at something across the street.  “Kaimei?”  she finishes gathering the money and hands it to the cab driver. She slowly gets out of the cab and shuts the door with a soft “click” , then,  “Kaimei?”.  Kaimei looks over her shoulder with a giggle and takes off across the street.  Bewildered, she follows Kaimei’s line of sight to see two figures standing on the corner across the street. 

Akari starts giggling nervously, catching up with Kaimei, who was practically jogging across the busy street in her heels. “OHMYGOD. Is that HIM? Oh wow. I think I might throw up. I’m so nervous. He’s so hot. Kaimei. What. Do. I. Do?!”

“Well, you certainly shouldn’t throw up on him. That’s terrible manners.” Snorts Kaimei as they near the sidewalk, very close to the two men.

“Kaimei,” Akari whispers to her with a hysterical giggle, “ Dexter’s friend is freaking gorgeous.”

“So i’ve noticed.” Mumbles Kaimei, as she stumbles the last few feet to introduce herself.

“Don’t throw up on him, that’s terrible manners.” Akari whispers smugly. Her whole attitude changes as she addresses her date. ” Hellooooo Dexter.” She slurs slightly, drunk with obvious lust as she intertwines his outstretched arm with hers.

Dexter, looking like he just stepped from the cover of GQ with his cream colored v-neck sweater, nice black slacks, and black dress shoes, smiles down at Akari, the warmth obvious in his ocean blue eyes. A slight stubble on his chin shows that he either spent too much time picking out his runway outfit to shave, or that he likes the stubble, which appeals just fine to Akari. 

“Hello, Akari,” he says with such a gorgeously thick scottish accent you could eat it with a spoon.  “This is my friend that I told you about, Tobias.” Dexter says, as he waves his hand in the direction of the second male in the party. 

Tobias is at least a head taller than Dexter, and is dangerously close to being overdressed for the evening.  The tan of his skin is enhanced by the deep burgundy of the dress shirt he wears under a black blazer, and freshly pressed slacks set off the outfit. A silver tie tack with matching cufflinks only add to the feast for the eyes. Whereas Dexter has ocean blues, Tobias has inviting hazel eyes, adding to the charm of his face. He reaches forward with large hands to complete the introduction to Akari, while his eyes linger on Kaimei, who is standing to the right. Tobias straightens from shaking hands with Akari, who quickly latches back on to Dexter, and turns to face Kaimei.

“I must say,” he begins rather formally, “when Dexter was describing you, he should have just said ‘No words can describe her beauty,’ because I can’t think of anything to say, but how absolutely amazing you look.” He pauses.  Akari puts her hand to her mouth and tries not to giggle, as she begins to pull them away from the introduction disaster of a lifetime.  Kaimei’s hand still in Tobias’s, he raises it to his mouth and kisses her hand slightly.  Kaimei is staring incredulously back into Tobias’ eyes, shock making her momentarily speechless. But she soon recovers.

“Um, look, I know you’re trying to make a good impression on me, it being the introduction and all,” she pulls her hand away quickly “but I am very much a 21st century girl, and that was a little too eighteenth-century for me.  A simple ‘you look nice, will you go out with me’ would suffice, and there is no need for hand kissing.” she shakes her head.  Tobias stares at her for a moment, and they both begin to laugh.  From a few paces ahead of them, Akari and Dexter turn to see what’s going on, and find them both giggling..  Dexter begins to walk back to them, and Akari stops him mid-stride.

“I think it might be better if we let them warm up to eachother, don’t you?” Akari needles, always eager to spend some time alone with Dexter. He smiles warmly at her, understanding her real intentions.

“Of course, you’re right. This will also give us some fine time as well, won’t it?” He teases her. They begin to walk towards the restaurant, leaving Kaimei and Tobias to follow at their leisure.

“I was hoping you weren’t the serious type,” Tobias says to Kaimei.  “I kept asking Dexter what you were like, but he said he didn’t really know either of you very well, so I thought the boyish charm would work, but apparently not.”

“The boyish charm is cute, but only if I know you first,” she laughs “that was a good ice breaker though, I’ll give you a ten for effort,” she sticks out her hand, and he shakes it “good to meet you, Tobias, and I’m glad you aren’t the serious type either.”  Tobias offers his arm in the same fashion as Dexter, and Kaimei accepts. They chit-chat lightly as they enter the restaurant while Dexter holds the door open. As Akari passes, she gives him the ‘don’t hold the door open for me’ look, and he smiles. They approach the greeters stand, where a long blonde haired teen pulls out four menus and proceeds to take them to their reserved table.

“So, Tobias, what do you do for a living?” Kaimei asks as the group gets comfortable in their chairs and begin to open their menus.  She and Akari leave their menus unopened, as they have the contents already stored in their minds. The Olive Garden is their weekly treat to themselves. They know all the servers by name, and they can find their way around the restaurant better than most hostesses.

 ”Actually, i’m an architect for a local company specializing in corporate office buildings.  We’re taking a new approach to office space, trying to elliminate the ‘cubicle atmosphere’ if you know what I mean.”

“Oh definitely,” Akari interjects “I know the office I used to work in, before I designed my own, and oh, was it terrible!  My cubicle was, I swear, three feet in diameter.  I’d have given anything for a window spot–”

“Thank. You. Akari.” Kaimei glares at her, kicking her under the table.  Akari mumbles a low oath and glares at Kaimei. She straightens up, shin still stinging, as their waitress approaches the table.

“Hello everyone, welcome to Olive Garden, my name is Sophie.  Can I start you out with a beverage?” she pulls out a notepad and a pen and looks at Dexter, who was sitting on the end closest to her.

“A Marchesi di Barolo, please.” he looks at Akari “What would you like?”

“An iced tea, no lemon, thank you.” Akari states without pause”

The server looks at Kaimei expectantly. “I’ll have a glass of Berry Sangria and an ice water,” she smiles and looks at Tobias.

“Uh, I don’t know what they just said, so can I just have a tall Budweiser?”  he asks sheepishly. He glances at Kaimei, and she smiles warmly at him.

“Okay, are we all ready to order?”  she looks at Tobias first this time.

“I believe so, miss,” Dexter says.  “I’ll have the Tuscan T-Bone, medium rare,” he pauses as Akari makes a face and sticks out her tounge slightly “with the salad.” he looks at the menu a second and then says “She will have  the chicken parmigiana, also with the salad.”  Akari stares at Dexter, eyes wide opened.  Kaimei gawks across the table, waiting for her to say something, but she just fiddles with the menu, waiting to hand it to the waitress, clearing her throat.  Kaimei breaks the silence.

“I’ll have the five cheese ziti, also with the salad,” eager to stop the ever chivalrous Tobias from following Dexter’s lead.  She hands over her menu and says, “ladies room?” as Akari, still dumbfounded, slowly gets up as Tobias orders the herb-grilled salmon, also with the salad, thank you and can I have an extra order of breadsticks?  Kaimei pulls Akari to the restroom, and shuts the door behind her.

“I thought you said this was your first date with Dexter?!” Kaimei questions.

“Um, no, I said that this was my first date with Dexter with you and Tobias.  I’m a little uncomfortable with what just happend…” her voice trails off.

“Um, yes, thank you, you don’t order a ladys’ food unless you have known her for a while and you know what she’s going to get!” she vigorously washes her hands and swipes a paper towel as Akari reaches into her purse for some lipstick.

“And.” she slowly applies the top lip “you don’t order MY food for me because I am not a lady.” Kaimei swipes the lipstick out of her hand. “What?” she questions, with half her lips gleaming a deep shade of red.

“Red?” Kaimei holds the stick up “With your complexion?  You’ll look sunburnt, especially with your nude makeup on.  Here.” she pulls out her own, which is a nude light pink color and hands it to her along with the leftover paper towel.  “I’ll just be taking this,” she swipes the cap out of Akari’s hand as Akari begins wiping the too-dark lipstick off of her lips and re-applying it with the appropriate color.

“What would I do without you?” Akari asks her, as she finishes touching up.

“Um, well, you would look really funny til that lipstick wore off, thats for sure.” The last of the words slurred slightly as she applies lipstick to herself. “Ouch!” she cups a hand over her left eye.

“What is it?” Akari asks. “Contact?  I’ve got a little bottle of solution in my clutch,” she sits the bag on the countertop and searches through it.  Kaimei pulls the contact out and stares at her eye in the mirror, attempting to place the contact back in.

“Akari,” she sounds nervous.

“Yeah, almost got it,” she doesn’t look up.

“Akari, look at my eye,”  Akari looks over as she hears the panic in Kaimei’s voice. She see’s Kaimei with her face pressed against the mirror, prying at the edges of her eye, growing more frantic every second. Akari drops everything in her hands and pulls Kaimei away from the mirror and studies her eye, revealing her left her iris completely black, and it’s slowly absorbing the whites in her eyes.  “Whats happening?!” Kaimei whispers frantically.

Kaimei begins to cover her eye with her hand, but as she looks at the mirror, she notices her right eye has done the same.  “Akari!!” she pleads, as tears begin to trickle down her cheeks.  A sharp stabbing pain in her temples causes her to gasp for breath.  “Akari, it hurts!  My head, it feels like its going to split in half!” she moans. She hangs her head, the pain nearly unbearable. Kaimei gasps as she sees black spots appearing on her hands. She waits,  and she notices that every time a tear falls from her eyes, another black mark manifests. She looks up in horror, staring at her face in the mirror.  Akari grabs Kaimei’s hands and holds them away from her face.  She tries to remain as calm as she possibly can, to keep Kaimei from totally spazzing out.

“Kaimei!” she says firmly, holding her wrists. “Kaimei! You have to calm down!  Stop crying!  It’s getting worse when you cry!” she turns her face towards the mirror, “Look at your face!” she points to it, noticing all of the veins in Kaimei’s face are bulging and full of the black substance. Akari stares in horror as it begins travelling down her bloodstream, heading directly for her heart.